Business burglary suspect arrested

RATHDRUM - A 55-year-old Post Falls man was arrested for allegedly attempting to steal property from a Rathdrum business early Saturday.

Donald E. Edwards was booked into the Kootenai County jail for an alleged burglary at Kasco of Idaho, a telecommunications construction and maintenance firm at 7234 W. Boekel Road.

"He may have jumped a fence to enter the property," said Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr, adding that Edwards was found hiding behind a building in a secured gated area of the business.

According to police, an alarm was triggered at the business around 4 a.m. When an officer responded, he noticed a pickup parked in an adjacent parking lot, and a male in the gated area.

After a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office deputy arrived as backup, a search of the property was completed.

Edwards was found and arrested without incident.

Police say it appears Edwards allegedly entered multiple buildings and gathered items including tools, copper wire and electronic surveying equipment.

"It appears he'd packed up the items to make as few trips (to his pickup) as possible," Fuhr said.

Fuhr said it's unclear how Edwards allegedly entered the buildings. No property damage was reported.

Edwards told police that he was at the business retrieving his property that he'd failed to get when he was recently fired from the business. However, the business owner told police that all of Edwards' property was given to him prior to his dismissal.

Edwards was released from jail on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled within the next 14 to 21 days.